How not to be a topic of an SAR search & internet 2nd guessing

[Mike P.]

As opposed to a rescue that might happen when you sprain an ankle or break a body part in an unexpected fall. (Some of this is copied from my post on VFTT on a thread about how to gain mountain common sense)

1.) Take a skills course: AMC & ADK offer these

2.) learn from others with years of experience, AMC (& ADK) Chapter Hikes, people here, local clubs like the Pioneer Valley group in MA, I believe there’s a group in Manchester, NH also Hike with these people, ask questions (before the hike if you don't know them well to make sure you will enjoy the trip) and during the trip.

3.) Go out locally at places you know, Bear (CT), Greylock, Monadnock, Grace, Race, etc can give you a taste of what to expect as far as wind & cold (I recall one cold winter day hiding behind the Race Summit to get out of the wind - I was on the beach at Sandwich, Cape Cod on 2/19/08 & it was plenty windy there too) A couple of these trips don't really have navigation issues but Monadnock can get you twisted around, ice covered rocks can look very similar; in places with cairns & small fir tress, the snow covers these things so it's hard to tell them apart in dense fog from distances as little as 10 feet.

4) When the guide book says you should have a long list of things & you think, gee, I've never had to use those things before or my pack will weigh too much, I'll be too slow; you need to consider what happens if you get lost or injured & unable to move? That extra layer you've never put on before would feel great; the hot soup would really hit the spot.

Some people will stick with the extreme end of Going light end of how much gear to bring. The amount of gear you bring should be relative to your opinion on turning back in bad weather & what is bad weather? If you are a summit or die guy, you better have a ton of warm clothes. If the first cloud in the sky has you fleeing & 40 degrees is too cold & any wind over 10 MPH is too windy, you'll do okay with a little less. We all fall probably between those extremes so your gear should too.

5) Let someone know when you will be back, either call or text them when you get back. My preference when doing this is too build a few hours of extra time (depending on the trip & expected weather) so if I miscalculate the time it would take or if I twist an ankle or tweak a knee or quad, I can limp out on my own. If it's going to be colder, that time is less.

From what I’ve read on the latest Presidential rescue, it seems that the call to rescue came when their ride got to Crawford Notch & they were not there, based on what we know as of 2/19 on their condition, they were overdue but not in apparent distress, having some way to communicate that would have saved SAR time & resources. Cells do work on some of those peaks in places. (Can't be counted on as a rescue device)

What do you do to keep yourself safe on the trail & how have you learned what you know?

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[cbcbd]

Originally Posted by Mike P.

What do you do to keep yourself safe on the trail & how have you learned what you know?

Although I am a fan of self-learning I am also a fan of taking courses from professionals when it is a more dangerous scenario.

Before I got into "winter hiking" I took a mountaineering course. IMO it speeds up the learning curve.
In the off time I read a lot of technical and non-fiction books.